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FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY  HIM  TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


SectioB 


(ZC^ 


TlIK  OLD  CIIURCII,  QllXCV,  MASS. 
Built  1732. 


AN 


N^^ 


MAY    5    1932 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH 


OLD  CHURCH,  QUINCY,  MASS 


yy 


Key.  FKEDEKIC  A.  WHITNEY, 


FROM   THE   NEW    ENGLAND    HISTORICAL   AND   GENEALOGICAL   REGISTER. 


ALBANY : 

J.  MUNSELL,  78  STATE  STREET. 
1864. 


C/ 


THE  OLD  CHURCH,  QUINCY. 


The  accompanying  engraving  represents  the  church  belonging  to 
the  ancient  religious  society  of  Braintree,  which,  in  1*192,  became 
the  first  society  of  Quincy,  on  the  incorporation  of  that  town. 
Quincy  was,  indeed,  the  original  settlement;  tlie  Mount  Wollaston; 
the  North  Precinct  of  Braintree.  This  church  was  taken  down  in 
1828,  on  the  completion  of  the  present  elegant  stone  edifice.  Here, 
two  presidents  of  our  nation,  John  Adams,  and  John  Quincy  Adams 
his  son,  were  baptized,  and  here  they  regularly  worshipped.  The 
imposing  funeral  services  at  the  burial  of  President  John  Adams  in 
July  1826,  were  held  in  this  church.  Here  too,  was  baptized,  January 
16, 1736-7,  John  Hancock,  the  patriot.  President  of  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, by  his  father,  Rev.  John  Hancock,  fifth  pastor  of  the  church. 
The  church  has  thus  an  historic  name. 

This  engraving  was  originally  made  for  the  History  of  Quincy, 
published  in  1827,  by  the  late  Rev.  George  Whitney  of  Roxbury, 
oldest  son  of  the  last  pastor  of  the  ancient  church.  The  writer  of 
the  present  sketch  prepared  a  portion  of  it,  some  years  since,  for 
another  publication.  At  the  request  of  the  editor  of  the  Register,  he 
has  revised  and  enlarged  the  same,  and  sent  it  with  the  engraving 
for  insertion  in  this  number. 

The  church  was  built  in  the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  Hancock,  who 
was  ordained  Nov.  2,  1726.  A  record  by  him  informs  us:  "It  was 
raised  July  27-'8-'9,  1731  in  peaceable  times."  Before  its  erection,  the 
society  worshipped  in  a  stone  church  which  stood  near  the  present 
Second  Congregational  church,  on  Hancock  street.  This  old  stone 
church  remained  until  Feb.  18,  1747-8,  when  a  vote  passed  to  sell 
it  to  the  highest  bidder.  It  was  sold  to  Serg.  Moses  Belcher  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Nightingale,  for  £100  old  tenor.  Whether  or  not 
this  was  the  original  church  edifice  of  the  society  cannot  be  deter- 
mined. In  the  absence  of  certain  testimony,  I  incline  to  the  belief 
that  there  had  been  an  earlier  building  than  the  old  stone  church, 
probably  on  about  the  same  site. 

The  church  which  we  commemorate  did  not  arise  without  many 
town  meeting  debates  and  votes.  From  the  precinct  records  we  learn 
that  as  early  as  Nov.,  1695,  a  vote  was  passed  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  building,  and  there  the  matter  was  left.  Dec.  22,  1729,  the  vote 
was  again  taken  and  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

"January  5,  1729-30,"  say  the  records:  "  Then,  after  a  considerable 
debate  of  the  precinct  about  a  place  where  to  set  the  said  meeting- 
house, a  vote  was  asked  whether  it  should  be  set  at  Col.  Quincy's 
gate;  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

"Then,  whether  where  the  old  meeting-house  stands,  or  near  unto  it; 
it  passed  in  the  negative. 

"  After  more  debate  upon  a  place  where  the  said  meeting-house 


4  The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass. 

should  be  set,  the  Moderator  was  desired  to  ask  a  vote  whether  the 
precinct  would  set  it  at  tlie  ten  mile  stone,  or  near  unto  it  ;  it 
piissed  in  the  affirmative." 

This  ten  mile  stone  now  stands,  a  venerable  relic,  against  the  land 
of  Lemuel  Brackett,  Esq.,  a  little  north  from  the  site  selected,  and 
marking  the  distance  from  Boston  by  "  the  old  way;"  over  Milton 
Hill,  and  not,  as  of  late  years  travelled,  over  Nepouset  turnpike 
and  bridge. 

"January  13,1130-31.  The  question  where  the  meeting-house 
should  be  placed  was  again  discussed  at  the  meeting.  The  question 
was  put  whether  the  said  House  should  be  erected  on  the  training 
field  within  the  said  precinct,  as  near  to  the  west  corner  of  the  land 
of  Ensign  Samuel  Baxter,  as  the  land  would  admit  of  ;  it  passed  in 
the  affirmative." 

The  church  raised,  as  we  have  seen,  in  July  1131,  was  dedicated, 
October  8,  1732.  "The  text  preached  upon  at  the  dedication," 
says  the  minister,  Rev.  Mr.  Hancock,  "  was  Isaiah,  Ix  chapter,  13th 
verse."  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  then  administered. 
Upon  this  Sabbath,  also,  we  began  to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  in* 
course,  in  the  public  assembly.  The  portion  then  read  was  1  Kings, 
8th  chapter.  The  Sabbath  following  we  began  the  book  of  Job  and 
the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew. 

"  Deo  Optimo  Maximo,  laus  ct  gloria." 

"  Madam  Norton  then  presented  to  the  church  a  very  handsome 
velvet  cushion  for  the  pulpit." 

Thus  much  for  the  early  erection  of  the  old  church.  Something 
may  be  told  of  its  after  history.  The  church  underwent  repairs  at 
diflerent  times;  and  in  1805,  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney, 
being  found  too  small  for  the  accommodation  of  the  society,  it  was 
opened  through  the  centre,  and  a  large  addition  inserted,  to  be  pre- 
sently described,  by  whicli  more  pews  were  obtained,  and  its  general 
appearance  was  greatly  improved.  At  this  time,  the  square  pews  in 
the  body  of  the  church  gave  place  to  the  modern  pews  ;  the  square 
form  being  retained  to  the  last,  against  the  walls.  The  following 
notice  from  the  History  of  Quincy,  describes  its  dimensions  and 
appearance  in  182*1,  the  year  in  which  the  accompanying  engraving 
was  made.     The  old  sounding-board  hung  above  the  pulpit. 

"  The  dimensions  of  this  house  since  the  last  alteration  are  as 
follows  :  Width,  56  feet;  length,  61  feet;  height  of  tower  to  bell 
deck,  50  feet;  height  of  cupola  from  bell  deck,  25  feet;  height  of  ball 
above  the  vane  from  the  ground,  75  feet.  The  appearance  of  the 
church,  inside  as  well  as  out,  is  still  very  respectable.  There  are 
87  pews  on  the  lower  floor,  and  all  painted  throughout.  The  galleries 
as  well  as  the  roof  are  supported  by  four  large  pillars  which  give 
the  house  ratiier  a  solemn  and  imposing  appearance.  The  pulpit  is 
in  the  ancient  style  of  building — handsomely  carved — with  one 
flight  of  stairs.  Below  is  the  communion  table  forming  the  front 
part  of  a  large  pew,  according  to  ancient  custom,  made  for  tlie  ac- 
commodation of  the  Deacons,  or,  perhaps,  for  the  Ruling  Elders.     In 

*  This  custom  was  adoptetl  at  the  old  South  church,  Boston,  April  24,  1737. 
See  Wisuer's  Hist.  Old  South  Church,  1830,  notes  p.  105. 


The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass.  5 

front  of  the  gallery  for  the  choir  of  singers  is  a  handsome  clock 
presented  to  the  society  by  two  ladies;  Madam  Abigail  Adams  wife 
ot  President  Adams,  Sen.,  and  Madam  Esther  Black,  widow  of  the 
late  Moses  Black,  Esq." 

The  subjoined  diagram,  abridged  from  the  original,  represents  the 
division  ot  the  ground  tioor  after  the  alterations  of  thebuildino-  in  1805- 
and  when  it  was  taken  down  in  1828.    Square  pews,  as  has  been  said! 

Ground  Plan  of  Church. 

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For  complete  list  of  owners  and  occupants,  see  page  8. 

were  retained  around  the  walls.  As  the  dimensions,  when  the  church 
was  taken  down,  were  sixty  one  feet  by  fifty-six,  and,  as  fifteen  feet  were 
added  in  the  width,  in  1805,  the  original  size  was  sixty-one  by  forty- 
one.  At  first  the  galleries  were  reached  by  stairs 'in  the  west  corners 
of  the    church  as  customary  in  early  times,  and  all  the  pews  were 


6  The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass. 

squtire.  There  were  two  rows  of  body  seats  in  front,  on  which 
were  seated  men  and  women  on  opposite  sides.  Behind  these  were 
two  rows  for  the  singers.  When  the  singers  stood,  they  faced  each 
other,  with  a  partition  between  them,  on  which  to  lay  their  books. 
The  Deacons  sat  in  their  place  before  the  pulpit  and  lined  off  the 
J^'salm.  Mr.  Lemuel  Brackett,  who  was  born  in  1780,  and  is  of  the 
best  authority  on  these  matters  of  and  near  his  time,  informs  me 
that  when  lie  was  a  boy,  Mr.  Babcock,  who  afterwards  removed  to 
Milton,  led  the  singing,  using  a  pitch-pipe. 

At  length  a  change  was  made.     The  stairs  in  the  corners  were  re- 
moved.    The   west  gallery  was  enlarged  for  the  singers  by  adding 
the  swell  in  front.     Deacon   Pierce,  carpenter  from  Dorchester,  was 
employed  by  the  town  to  make  these  alterations,  about  1793,  or  '94. 
He    converted    the  body    seats    above  named    into  pews,    and  the 
singers  went  into  the  gallery,  and  the  poor  were  seated  in  a  pew  by 
the  pulpit.     Mr.  Pierce  at  the  same  time,  repaired  the  damage  which 
the    tower   had  sustained  by  lightning  several  years  before.     The 
lightning  bad  destroyed  the  belfry,  so  that  the  bell  had  remained  quite 
uncovered  for  many  years.     Rev.  Mr.  Wibird  had   long   urged   the 
repairing   of    the   tower,    which    in  its  dilapidated    state,    brought 
merited    reproach   upon  the   town.     When  the  stairs  were  removed 
from  the   west  corners  of  the    church,  it  was  necessary  to  provide 
other   means   for  reaching    the    galleries.     The  first  porcli  on    the 
south  of  the  church  was  of  one   story  only,  without  stairs;  and  the 
stairs  in  the  tower  on  the  north  did  not  connect  with  the  main  build- 
ino-.     ludeed  I  am  credibly  informed  that  the  tower  was  not  framed 
into  the    main  building,  but  rather   stood  against  it,  so   that   in   a 
furious  gale  it  was  once  twisted   a  little  from  its   proper  position, 
and  persons  could  look  between  it  and  the  building.     This  great  gale 
occurred  while  a  military   review  was  held  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town  at  the  Farms  ;  and   the   tents  of  the  soldiers  were  blown  down 
and  other  damage   sustained.     The   small  porch  on   the   south   was 
sold  to  Mr.  James  Brackett,  father  of  Mr.  Lemuel,  who  removed  it  to 
'  Germantown  (the  south  eastern  extremity  of  Quincy),  and  aflSxcd  it 
to  the  old  stone  house  there  which  then  belonged  to  him.    A  new  two 
story    porch    was  erected  by  Mr.  Pierce,  with  stairs  to  the  south,  or 
women's    gallery,  and  also  to  the  south   end  of   the  west  gallery, 
which  remained  when  the  church  was  taken  down.     Communication 
was  also  made  with  the  tower  on  the  north,  by  which  access  was  had 
to  the  men's  gallery,  and  also  to  the  north  end  of  the   west  gallery. 
The  removal  of  the  singers  from  the  seats  before  the  pulpit  to  the 
gallery  was  not  effected   without   some  solicitation.     They   were  at 
first  quite   unwilling  to  go  up.     But  means  were  employed  which, 
both  before  and  since  that  period,  have  been  found  most  efficacious 
for  chani>-ing  even   the    stubborn    will.     Mr.  James  Brackett,  above 
named,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  alterations,   made  a  sup- 
per for  the   singers  at  his   house.     A  fine  festival  was  enjoyed,  and 
the  singers  were  no  longer  unwilling  to  go  into  the  gallery.     My 
informant  further   relates  that  among  them  at  the  feast,  was  Mr. 
Joseph  Bass,  whom  many  of  the  citizens  of  Quincy  will  remember 
as  reaching  a  great  age,  and  also  his  brother  Mr.  Hezekiah  Bass  who 
played  the  bass-viol.     This  instrument  was  first  used  in  the  church 


The  Old  Church,  Qi/incy,  Mass.  7 

when  the  singers  changed  their  seats.  Some  of  the  congregation 
were  much  oifended  at  the  introduction  of  stringed  instruments. 
One  old  man  rose  up  and  left,  saying  that  "  he  did  not  want  to  go  to 
God's  House  to  hear  a  great  fiddle." 

On  the  removal  of  the  corner  stairs,  room  was  made  for  pews 
below  and  above.  March  3,  1800,  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  a 
town  meeting  is  in  these  words, — "  To  know  if  the  Town  will  sell 
the  floor  where  the  stair  ways  was  in  the  gallery."  Whereupon, — 
"  Voted  that  the  floor  where  the  old  stair  ways  was,  the  vacancy  in 
the  gallery  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  black  people  to  sit 
in."  Large  square  pews,  somewhat  elevated,  were  built  in  the 
corner  of  the  west,  or  singers'  gallery  on  this  space  here  referred  to; 
and  the  few  colored  persons  in  town  were  accustomed  to  sit  there. 
In  the  appendix  to  the  historical  discourse  in  1855,  on  the  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  formation  of  the  first  church  in  Templeton,  Mass., 
by  Rev.  Edwin  G.  Adams,  junior  pastor,  may  be  seen  a  diagram  on 
which  these  elevated  corner  pews  are  well  represented. 

At  a  Town  meeting  May  5,  1800,  just  tliree  months  after  the 
ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney,  "  Voted  Moses  Black  Esq ,  Mr. 
Thomas  Pratt,  Peter  B,  Adams,  Esq.,  be  a  committee,  and  are 
hereby  empowered  to  sell  the  floor  on  the  back  part  of  the  end 
galleries  sufficient  to  make  a  row  of  pews  of." 

This  vote  does  not  appear  to  have  been  carried  into  effect.  No 
pews  were  ever  built  in  the  north  or  men's  gallery.  And  in  the 
south  gallerj^,  a  few  pews  were,  several  years  after,  built  in  the  east 
end,  leaving  more  than  half  the  gallery  in  free  seats  for  women. 
There  was  originally  a  row  of  pews  on  the  back  of  the  west  gal- 
lery, and  several  of  them  in  the  middle  were  subsequently  taken 
away  to  leave  more  space  for  the  singers. 

1804,  Nov.  5.  "  Moses  Black,  Esq.,  Benjamin  Beale,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Thomas  Greenleaf,  Capt.  John  Hall,  Peter  B.  Adams,  Esq.  were 
chosen  to  consult  with  some  architect  upon  the  plan  of  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  house  and  to  report  to  the  town." 

1805,  March  4.  "  This  committee  is  empowered  to  contract  with 
any  person  or  persons  that  may  incline  to  undertake  the  work,  pro- 
vided satisfactory  bonds  be  given  to  the  town  that  the  house  shall 
not  be  injured,  and  to  be  left  in  as  good  repair  as  it  now  is,  they 
having  the  ground  for  their  benefit."  Voted  also,  "  that  the  meeting 
house  shall  not  be  enlarged  more  than  15  feet,  nor  less  than  12  feet." 

The  extreme  caution  of  the  town,  evinced  by  these  votes,  not  to 
be  imposed  upon  by  any  fraudulent  contractor  in  so  momentous  an 
enterprise  as  sawing  apart  a  meeting  house,  sixty-one  by  forty-one, 
and  inserting  fifteen  feet  is  most  admirable.  Mr.  Bates  of  Wey- 
mouth, undertook  the  work;  and,  by  the  sale  of  new  pews  which  he 
gained,  the  contract  was  very  profitable  to  him.  The  town  was 
furthermore  so  well  satisfied  that  they  had  sustained  no  "injury" — 
that  his  bonds  were  not  forfeited. 

1805,  July  22.  "  Voted  to  shingle  all  the  old  part  of  the  meeting 
house,  which  Mr.  Bates  has  not  contracted  to  do;  and  that  the  sub- 
ject be  referred  to  the  committee  on  alterations." 

The  enlargement  of  the  church  here  described,  was  effected  by 
sawing  the  building,  lengthwise  with  the  ridge  pole,  from  North  to 


8  The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass- 

soutli,  moving  the  front,  or  west  portion  ol"  the  same  fifteen  feet 
forward,  and  framing  in  tlie  intermediate  space.  The  four  large 
pillars  which  will  be  remembered  as  supporting  the  roof  in  the  body 
of  the  church,  were  added  at  tliis  time.  Of  course  by  tliis  move- 
ment, the  ridge-pole  was  elevated  above  its  former  height,  and  the 
roof  on  the  east  elongated  as  well  as  on  the  west.  The  tower  and 
also  the  south  porch  were  moved  westward  a  few  feet,  to  correspond 
with  the  new  ridge  line. 

By  a  typographical  error  in  the  history  of  Quincy,  this  enlarge- 
ment of  the  church  is  assigned  to  1806.  The  number  of  weeks  em- 
ployed in  the  work  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  entries  made 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney  in  his  private  diary  of  preaching. 

1805,  July  21.  "  We  had  no  meeting;  our  meeting  house  was 
opened!"  "  July  28.  No  meeting  at  Quincy,  I  preached  for  Mr. 
Whitney  of  Hingham."  On  the  first  sabbath  of  August,  worship 
was  resumed.  November  H,  following,  is  recorded  in  the  diary. 
"  No  meeting.— painting  pews,  &c."  November  24,  worship  was  re- 
sumed. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  those  who  recall  the   old  church,  that  it 

rested  for  underpinning  on  two  rows  of  neatly  hannnered  stone,  and 
that  the  door  steps  were  of  similar  material.  The  church  as  original- 
ly constructed  had  not  this;  but  it  was  added  about  1*190.  The 
town  contemplated  putting  the  hammered  stone  only  under  three 
walls  of  the  church,  leaving  the  back,  or  east  side  in  its  first  rough 
finish.  Now  this  side  of  the  church  looked  towards  Thompson 
Baxter's  house  in  which  Rev.  Mr.  Wibird  boarded,  and  was  that 
which  the  pastor  first  approached  in  coming  to  his  pulpit.  He  heard 
of  the  purpose  of  the  town,  and  exclaimed,  '  why  should  not  my  side 
be  hammered  stone  too  !'  It  must  be;  L  will  pay  for  it  myself." 
And,  according  to  his  accustomed  liberality,  he  actually  insisted  on 
defraying  the  cost  of  that  part  of  the  stone.  It  was  not  uncommon, 
as  I  learned  from  my  father,  his  successor  in  the  ministry,  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Wibird  to  look  over  the  list  of  rates  prepared  for  the  payment 
of  his  salary,  and  erase  some  names,  saying,  '  this  man  has  been  un- 
fortunate,'— or  '  such  an  one  needs  the  money  more  than  I  do,' — and 
thus,  deductions  were  frequently  made  from  his  stated  stipend.  The 
hammered  stones  above  named  were  used  in  the  underpinning  of  the 
houses   erected   from   the   materials  of  the  old    church  on  Cottage 

Avenue. 

When  the  church  was  taken  down,  the  owners  of  pews,  by  a  quitclaim 

deed,  which  is  in  the  possession  of  the  parisii  treasurer  Mr.  Lewis  Bass, 
and  which  he  courteously  loaned  to  me  for  these  minutes,  relinquished 
all  right  and  title  thereto,— each  owner  signing  and  sealing,  and  re- 
ceiving fifty  dollars  for  a  pew  below,  and  ten  dollars  for  one  above. 
As  owners  &  occupants  could  not  be  described  on  the  diagram,  we 
add  a  brief  notice  of  each — giving  from  the  deed,  the  owners  on  the 
final  disposition  of  the  edifice. 

No    1.     Owner,  President  John  Quincy   Adams.     His  oldest  son  George  Washing- 
ton Adams,  attorney,  of  II.  IJ.,  1821,  signs  for  liini.     President  John  Adams 
former  owner,   died   July  4,  1S26,  in  his   nist  year.     His    wile,  Abigail   died 
October    28,  1818,  aged  74      He    was  never  absent  from  eliurch  loreiioon,  or 
afternoou,  wlieu  in  Quiucy  ;  and  was  accustomed  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life 


The  Old  Church,  Qxdncy,  Mass.  9 

to  sit  ou  the  short  seat  across  the  head  of  the  pew.     His  son,  the  President,  ag 

punctual  at  church,  died    February   23,  1848,  in  his  81st  year.     His  widow, 

Louisa  Catharine,  died  May  15,  1852,  aged  77.     For  pedigree  of  Adams  family 

see  vol.  VII.  p.  39  of  this  Register. 

No.  2.     Owner,   Daniel   Greenleaf  who  came  from   Boston  1797,  and  many  years 

after,  bought  and  occupied  both  the  pew  and  the  large  and  beautiful  estate  of 

•     Moses  Black, — the   original  estate  of  Edmund,  ancestor  of  the  Quincy  family. 

Mr.  Greenleaf  died  March    25,    1853,  aged   90  years,  6  mos.     His  wife  died 

January  6,  1839,  aged  73.    He  was  brother  to  John  of  pew  No.  70,  and  cousin  to 

Thomas  of  pew  No.  l^,  also  cousin  to  his  own  wife  Elizabeth  Greenleaf. 

No.  3.     Owner,  George   Nightingale,  formerly  town  clerk  and  treasurer ;  who  died 

Feb.  25,  1864,  aged  77  years,  9  mos.     Seth  Burrill  occupied  before  him.     Asa 

Pope  also  occupied. 

No.  4.     Owner,  Cotton  Tufts,  H.  U.  1777,  died  1833,  aged  76.     This  family  lived  in 

Weymouth,  attending  constantly  here.     He  was  son  of  Dr.  Cotton  Tufts  of 

Weymouth,  H.  U.  1749,  and  father  of  Quincy  Tufts,  who  is  still  merchant  at 

No.  105  Washington  street,  Boston,  where  he  has  been  engaged  longer  than 

any  other  single  trader,  or  firm  on  the  street. 

No.  5.     Owner,  Isaac  Riddle  of  Quincy  Point.     Nathan  Josselyn  also  occupied  it. 

No.  6.     Owner,  Anthony  Wibird  Baxter  from  the  west  part  of  the  town,  died  Sept., 

1822.     His  widow  Catharine  signs  the  deed,  as  executrix. 
No.  7.     Owner,  William  Hayden,  Sen.,  deed   signed  for  him  by  Wm.  Hayden,  jr., 
attorney.     Judge   Thomas  Boylston  Adams,  of  H.  U.    1790,  son  of  President 
John  Adams  occupied  it.     He  died,  1832. 
No.  8.     Owner,  George  W.  Beale  (see  No.  85.)     Occupied  by  John  Briesler,  mer- 
chant, now  of  the  firm  of  Briesler  &  Whitney,  Quincy. 
No.  9.     Owners,  Hannah  Miller  and  her  son  Edward,  of  H.  U.  1813,  attorney      He 

died  1842. 
No.  10.  Owner,  Josiah  Quincy.  He  owned,  also,  pew  No.  34,  and  by  a  door  con- 
nected the  two  for  greater  accommodation.  This  venerable  statesman  and 
true  patriot,  now  in  his  93d  year,  passed  the  last  summer  as  usual,  at  his 
country  seat  at  Quincy,  where  his  ancestors  settled  and  worshipped  more  thau 
two  centuries  ago. 
No.  11.     Owner,   Capt.  Oliver  .Jenkins   from  Quincy  Point ;    died   August,   1829. 

Occupants  Ebeuezer  Sha^  and  Perez  Chubbuck,  also  of  the  Point. 
No.  12.     Owners  jointly  and  occupants,  Benjamin  and  Job  Faxon. 
No.  13.         "  "  "  "        Joseph  Brackett,  and  widow  Jerusha  New- 

comb. 
No.  14.     Owner,  .Tames  Hall.     Occupants,  Abner  Willett,  and  Daniel  French  pro- 

prieter  of  the  old  tavern,  afterwards  called  the  Hancock  House. 
No.  15.     Owner,  Elijah  Spear,  who  owned  and  occupied  'till  his  death,  the  house 
still   standing  near  the  head  of  the  Quincy  canal,  in  which  Rev.  Mr.  Wibird 
lived,  unmarried,  through  his  ministry,  then  the  estate  of  Thompson  B.ister. 
No.  16.     Owner,    .Jonathan   Beale,  whose   house   was    on   the    western  border   of 

Quincy,  close  upon  the  Milton  line. 
No.  17.     Owners,  Heirs  of  Samuel    Spear.     He   lived    at    Hough's  Neck,  Quincy. 

The  deed  is  signed  by  Daniel  Baxter,  jr.  in  behalf  of  the  heirs. 
No.  18.  Owner,  Thomas  Greenleaf,  of  H.  U.  1784.  He  came  from  Boston  in  1803 
— though  a  temporary  resident  here  from  1790.  His  house  in  which  he  lived 
more  tlian  fifty  years,  west,  beyond  President  Adams's,  once  belonged  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Charles  Chauncy  of  first  church,  Boston,  who  lived  here  for  a  few  months 
of  several  successive  yeai'S.  Mr.  Greenleaf  died  .Jan.  5,  1854,  in  his  87th  year. 
His  widow  Mary  Deming  (Price)  died  Feb.  22,  1856,  in  her  89tii  year.  He  was 
brother  to  the  wife  of  Daniel,  of  pew  No.  2.  See  Rev.  Dr.  Luut's  discjurse 
after  his  death,  for  historical  and  genealogical  notices. 
No.  19.     Owner,  Capt.  Josiah  Bass,  whose  estate  on  Neponset  turnpike   connected 

with  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy's. 
No.  20.     Owner,   Deacon    Daniel    Spear.      It    was   before   owned   by   Theophilus 

Thayer;  then  by  George  his  son.     Josiah  Brigham,  merchant,  occupied  it. 
No.  21.     Owner,  Oliver  Jenkins  as  of  No.  11. 
No.  22.     Owner,  James  Mayo  of  Quincy  Point.     Deed  signed  by  his  widow  Luciii- 

da.     It  was  occupied  by  Capt,  Ezra  Prior's  family,  also  of  Quincy  Point. 
No.  23.     Owner,  Edward  W.  Baxter's  estate.     Josiah  Baxter  signs  deed  for  one-half 

of  it.     John  Colman  also  occupied  it. 
No.  24,     Paiish  pew  lor  minister's  family. 


10  The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass. 

No.  25.     Owner,  James  Baxter,  whose  estate  adjoined  Thomas  Greeiileaf's. 

No.  26.     Owners  and  occupants  jointly,  Deacon  Daniel  Spear,  and  Nedabiah  Bent. 

No.  27.     Owner,  .Jonathan  Baxter  of  Quincy  Point. 

No.  28.  Owner,  Bryant  Newcomb,  who  also  owned  a  pew  in  the  east  end  of  the 
south  gallery  where  he  always  sat  himself. 

No.  29.  OwntT,  Adam  Curtis,  occupied,  also  by  his  brother  Samuel,  sons  of  Noah, 
and  all  extensively  engaged  iu  the  manufacture  of  boots. 

No.  30.     Owner,  Noah  Curtis  from  Pain's  Hill,  town  treasurer. 

No.  31.     Owner,  Deacon  Samuel  Savil,  occupied  also  by  his  son  Josiah  Savil. 

No.  32.  Owner,  Ebenezer  Crane,  occupied,  also  by  liis  sou-in-law,  Josiah  Nightin- 
gale. 

No.  33.     Owner,  Wm.  Baxter,  jr.,  occupied  also  by  Paul  Wild. 

No.  34.     Owner,  Josiah  Quincy,  connecting  with  No.  10. 

No.  35.     Owner,  Frederick  Hardwick. 

No.  36.     Owner,  Josiah  Bass,  as  of  No.  19. 

No.  37.  Owners,  Edmund  Billings'  estate,  by  Lemuel  Brackett  administrator,  one- 
third, — Jeru.sha  and  Mary  Billings,  each,  one-third. 

No.  38.  Owner,  Daniel  Greenleaf  (as  of  No.  2),  occupied,  by  his  sister  Priscilla, 
widow  of  John  Appleton,  and  her  son  Alfred. 

No.  39.  Owner,  George  H.  Apthorp.  The  deed  is  signed  for  him  by  Rev.  Benja- 
min Clark  Cutler,  of  the  Episcopal  church,  Quincy.  Aaron  Mason,  also,  oc- 
cupied, of  the  firm  of  Chamberlin  and  Mason,  wheelwrights. 

No.  40.     Owner,  Lemuel  Brackett  (see  No.  54),  occupied  by  Ebenezer  Green. 

No.  41.     Owner,  Lemuel  Pope,  from  Squantum,  north-east  part  of  the  town. 

No.  42.     Owner,  .John  Savil,  son  of  Deacon  Samuel  Savil. 

No.  43.     Owner,  John  Souther,  shipwright  at  Souther's  wharf,  Quincy. 

No.  44.     Owner,  James  Hall,  son  of  Capt.  John  Hall,  former  owner. 

No.  45.     Owner,  Ezra  Glover. 

No.  46.     Owner,  Jesse  Fenno.     Deed  signed  by  Daniel  Spear,  executor. 

No.  47.     Owners,  Edward  Glover,  Polly  Glover  administratrix,  one-half  each. 

No.  48.     Owner,  General  Thomas  Taylor,  from  "  the  Farms." 

No.  49.  Owner,  John  Quincy  Adams;  deed  signed  as  No.  1.  John  Spear  oc- 
cupied. 

No.  50.     Owners,  Samuel  and  Ebenezer  Rawson,  one-half  each. 

No.  51,  Owner,  Deacon  Josiah  Adams,  occupied  ailso  by  his  son  Josiah,  jr.  Dea- 
con Adams  died  April  24,  1844,  aged  80.  He  and  his  brothers  of  pews  Nos.  67 
and  77,  were  second  cousins  to  President  John  Q.  Adams.  Deacon  Adams' 
widow,  Margaret  died  Feb.  3,  1849,  wanting  9  days  of  75  years. 

No.  52.  Owner,  John  Bass,  kindly  remembered  by  many  ;  living  on  Granite  street 
to  an  advanced  age,  his  sister  Polly  with  him, — both  unmarried.  Occupied 
also  by  William  Seaver,  teacher.  Dr.  Woodward,  Dart.  Col.  1817,  present 
senior  physician  of  Quincy,  when  entering  on  his  practise,  forty  years  ago, 
sat  here. 

No.  53.  Owner,  Elisha  T.  Crane.  Occupied  also  by  Ebenezer  Nightingale.  This 
pew  formerly  belonged  to  Thompson  Baxter,  with  whom  Rev.  Mr.  Wibird  lived. 

No.  54.     Owner,  Lemuel   Brackett.     Belonged,  formerly,  to  his   father  James,  who 

died  August  16,  1825,  in  his  90th  year,  a  constant  attendant  at   church,    and, 

in  his  latter  years,  sitting  iu  the    pulpit   by    reason  of  deafness.     The  j)resent 

owner  as  constant  an  attendant  at  church  and  .still  in  excellent  health,  in  his 

84th  year,  living  (probably  oldest  man  in  town)  at  his  house  on  Hancock  street, 

which  he  built   in  1826,  when  he  left   the   very   ancient  house  of  his    father. 

He  is  great-great-great  granil  son  of  the  original  ancestor,  <  'apt.  Richard  Brackett, 

Deacon,  Boston,  1632, — who,  with  wife  Alice,   joined  Braintree,  now  Quincy, 

first  church, — town  clerk, — third   captain  of  the  town,  which  office,  by  reason 

of  infirmities,  he  begged  to  lay  down   in    1684,  and  the  court  appointed  Edm. 

Quincy  to  succeed  hiui.  Richard  gave  a  silver  cup  to  the  cliurch  which  is  inscribed 

B 
with  the  initials  of  him  and  his  wife,  after  the  ancient  cu.stom,  thus   r    »v   a 

He  died  March  5,  1690,  aged  80.  See  Savage;  also  Genealogical  sketch  of  the 
Brackett  family  by  the  late  Jell'rey  Richardson,  jr.,  grand  sou  of  Lemuel  B., 
and  member  of  N.  E.  Hi.'-t.  and  Gen.  Society. 
No.  55.  Owners,  jointly,  Cijit.  James  Brackett,  older  brother  of  Lemuel,  and 
Thomas  Piiipjis  as  administrator.  It  was  occupied  also  in  latter  years  of  the 
church  by  tin-  families  of  William  Whall  and  Ciiarles  Park.  Capt.  Brackett 
kept  a  store  by  his  house,  which  was  on  the  north  east  corner  of  Hancock  and 


The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass,  11 

Elm  streets      The  old  town  hay  scales,  unlike  what  we  see  now,  stood  in  front 
of  this   store      This  house  was   built  in    1794-5,  by   James,   father  of  Capt. 
James   and  was   on  the    site  of  the  old  well  known  Brackett  tavern  kept  by 
James'  grand   father  of  Capt.  James.     Capt.  James   Brackett  removed   from 
Quincy  in  1825,  to  Philadelphia ;  and,  after  residing  some  years  at  Greenport, 
L.  I.,  died  at  Philadelphia,  April  18,  1855,  in  his  86th  year. 
No.  56.     Owner,    Dr.  Thomas  Phipps,   who  succeeded  his  father,  Dr.  Thomas,  of 
'  H.  U.,  1757,  as  physican  in  Quincy,  and  who  fell  dead,  August  30,  1832,  from 
ossification  of  heart',  as  he  was  leaviug  his  house  on  School  street,  walking  to  the 
Town  Hall,  to  meet  the  officers  of  the  regiment  and  resign  his  commission  as  its 
surgeon,  pewasat  Cambridge  commencement,  with  his  family,  seeming  never 
in  better  health,  on  the  day  before,  when  his  son  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Phipps, 
afterwards  minister  at  Cohasset,  took  part  on  graduating.     The  first  owner  of 
this  pew  was  Capt.  Joseph  Neal  Arnold  who  was  named  for  old  Deacon  Neal. 
No.  57.     Owner,  Capt.  James  Brackett  of  No.  55.     Lewis  Baxter  occupied  it. 
No.  58.     Owner,  Henry  Hardwick,  who  lived  at  the  foot  of  Pain's  Hill. 
No.  59.     Owner,   Peter   Keating.      His  son-in-law  Lemuel   Baxter,   and   Thomas 

Nightingale  also  occupied  it. 
No.  60.     Owner,  Elijah   Spear,  of  No.  15.     Occupied  by  Moses  Eeed  Marsh,  and 
'  Edmund,  brothers,  who  carried  on  a  boot  factory  on  Hancock  street,  opposite 
house  of  L.  Brackett. 
No.  61.     Owner,  Elisha  Marsh,  who  died  April  17, 1847,  aged  65.     His  widow  Lucy 
died   Jan.  23,  1864,  aged  81.     Former   owner,  his  father,  Wilson  Marsh,  who 
died   July  7,  1828,  aged  78.     Wilson  was   great-grand   son  of  the   original 
ancestor,  Lieut,   Alexander   Marsli,    Freeman,    1654,    who  married  probably, 
Dec.  19,  1655,  Mary,  dau.  of  Gregory    Belcher,  and  died  March  7,  1698,  aged 
about  70.    Alexander's  son  John  was*  father,  probably,  of  John,  of  H.  U.,  1726. 
No.  62.     Owner  of  one-half,  Wm.  Newcomb.     Occupied  also  by  his  sons. 
No.  63.     Owner,  John    Pray,  who   died   at  an  advanced  age;  father  o  f  Lewis  G. 

Pray,  long  engaged  in  business  in  Boston,  now  residing  at  Roxbury. 
No.  64.     Owners,  jointly,  Joseph  Field  from  the  foot  of  Pain's  Hill,  and  William  Bax- 
ter, School  street. 
No.  65.     Owners,  jointly,  Jedadiah  and  Peter  Adams,  brothers ;  from  whose  estate 
on  Sea  street.    Rev.  P.  Whitney  purchased  land  in  1801,  on  which  to  erect  his 
house,  and  subsequently,  in  1809. 
No.  66.     Owners,  jointly,  Wm.  Spear;  and  Daniel  Hobart,  Sexton  for  many  years. 
No!  67.     Owner,'  Ebenezer   Adams.     He  died   June  10,   1841,   aged  79  years,   1 
mo.     His  widow  Elizabeth,  died   September  26,  1856,  aged  81  years,  20  days. 
John  Whitney  merchant  at   Quincy  Point,  also  occupied  it,  who  died  Jan.  2, 
1850,  in  his   65th  year.     He  was  brother,  and  the  wives  of  Ebenezer   Adams, 
of  Deacon  Josiah  Adams,  and  of  Lemuel   Brackett  were  sisters  of  Rev.  Peter 
Whitney.     Mr.  Adams   bought  this  pew  of  the  estate  of  Gen.    Palmer,  who 
lived  at  German  town. 
No.  68.     Owner,  Lewis  Bass,  now  living  on  Granite  street.     Parish  treasurer,  son  of 

Deacon  Jonathan  Bass,  former  owner. 
No.  69.  Owner,  Wm.  James,  jr.,  Hannah  Bent  and  mother,  also  occupied  it. 
No',  to".  Owner,  John  Greenleaf,  formerly  judge  Richard  Cranch's  pew,  whose  dau. 
'  Lucy  he  married  April  4,  1795.  His  estate  was  the  ancient  Craucli  estate  on 
School  street.  He  was  son  of  sheriif  Wm.  Greenleaf  of  Boston.  Rev.  Dr. 
Lunt  in  the  appendix  to  his  sermon  after  the  death  of  Hon.  Thomas  Greenleaf, 
says  '"  there  were  two  sheriffs  of  Suffolk  at  that  time,  and  what  is  remarkable, 
they  were  brothers,  one  a  Tory,  Stephen  Greenleaf,  and  the  other,  Wm.  Green- 
leaf an  ardent  Whig."  A  sister  of  Mr.  John  Greenleaf,  Nancy,  married  his 
wife's  brother,  judge  Wm.  Cranch  of  Washington.  Mr.  Greenleaf  died  March 
29  1848,  aged  84  years  6  mo.  His  wife  died  previous,  Feb.  18,  1846,  aged  79 
years.  Her  motlier  and  President  John  Adams's  wife  were  sisters, — the  daugh- 
ters of  Rev.  Wm.  Smith  of  Weymouth.  Dr.  Lunt  concludes  his  excellent 
sermon  on  Mr.  Thomas  Greenleaf  in  these  words.  "  And  may  it  be  our 
felicity,  when  our  earthly  work  shall  be  ended,  to  leave  behind  us  as  un- 
tarnish'ed  a  name,  and  as  distinct,  as  unequivocal,  and  as  reliable  evidences  of 
a  useful  and  honorable  life,  as  have  been  left  behind  him  by  the  venerated 
friend,  fellow-townsman,  and  fellow-worshipper  upon  whose  grave  I  lay 
this  humble  tribute  of  aflectionate  respect."  And  of  Mr.  John  Greenleaf  Dr. 
Lunt  writes,  as  above.  "  This  venerable  man  had  been  blind  from  his  youth  ; 
but  the  care  which  his  condition  required  was  au  office  of  love,  and  never  a 


12  The  Old  Churchy  Quincy,  Mass. 

burden  through  his  uniform  cheerfulness  and  Christian  goodness.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Greenleaf  were  among  the  excellent  of  the  earth  ;  and  the  memory  of  their  quiet 
worth  is  cherished  in  many  hearts."  Mr.  G. ,  we  may  add,  though  blind,  was  a 
constant  attendant  at  church.  He  was  likewise,  proficient  on  the  organ  and 
other  musical  instruments. 

No.  71.  Owners,  Peter  Brackett,  one-eighth;  Betsey  Brackett,  one-fourth  and  two- 
tenths  ;  Mary  P.  Adams,  one-eighth  ;  Frances  Spear,  Mehitable  and  Sarah 
Nightingale,  one-tenth,  each. 

No.  72.     Owner,  Daniel  Spear.     John  Billings  and  Mrs.  Faxon  also  occupied  it. 

No.  73.  Owner,  Wm.  Wood,  master  builder  of  the  new  stone  church.  Tlie  family 
of  Thomas  Crane,  also  occupied  it. 

No.  74.  Owner,  Peter  Bicknell  from  Gerraantown,  south  east  part  of  Quincy. 

No.  75.  Owners,  Horatio  N.  Glover,  one  half;  Nathaniel  Glover  and  Thomas 
Adams,  one-quartor,  each. 

No.  76.  Owner  Jonathan  Marsh,  son  of  Wilson  of  ppw  No.  61.  He  was  much  inter- 
ested in  liistorical  and  genealogical  research,  and  a  subscriber  to  this  ifeg-w^er. 
He  endured  a  long  and  jtainful  confinement  in  Christian  patience  and  hope, 
and  died,  December  10,  J861,  aged  74  years,  8  mos,  5  days.  See  a  full  notice 
in  this  Register,  vol.  15,  p.  179. 

No.  77.  Owner,  Thomas  Adams,  whose  estate  was  on  Neponset  Turnpike.  He 
was  brother  of  Deacon  Josiah  and  Ebenezer. 

No.  78.     Owner,  Solomon  Nightingale.     James  Green  also  occupied  it. 

No.  79.     Owner,  Adam  Hardwick. 

No.  80.     Owners,  Jonathan  Cook  and  Daniel  Spear. 

No.  81.  Owner,  William  Wood.  George  Veasie  occupied  it.  Deacon  Elijah 
Veasie,  his  father,  formerly. 

No.  82.  Owners,  Oliver  ]>illings,  one-half;  George  M.  Gibbens,  one-qnarter  ;  Geo. 
B.  Billings,  one-quarter. 

No.  83.  Owner,  John  Dwelle  from  Pain's  Hill.  Henry,  brother  of  Wm.  Wood, 
also  occupied  it. 

No.  84.  Owners,  Luther  Spear,  two-thirds  ;  Frances,  widow  of  Seth  Spear,  one- 
third. 

No.  85.  Owner,  George  W.  Beale.  He  fell  dead  in  his  yard,  of  disease  of  the 
heart,  Nov.  19,  1851,  aged  69.  His  father,  Capt.  Benjamin  Beale,  former 
owner,  died  in  1825,  at  a  very  advanced  age.  Their  large  and  beautiful  estate 
adjoined  President  Adams'  on  the  west. 

No.  86.  Owner,  Peter  Boylston  Adams,  brother  to  President  John  Adams.  Ha 
died  at  a  very  advanced  age.  Tlie  deed  is  signed  by  Peter  Turner  as  Guardian 
of  Peter  Boylston  Adams,  for  one-third ;  Mary  Turner  for  one-third  ;  and 
Davis  Boardnian  for  one-third.     Elisha  Turner,  also  occupied  it. 

No.  87.     Parish  pew  for  town's  poor. 

Tlie  quit-claim  deed  relinquishing-  the  pewa,  contains  the  signa- 
tures of  the  I'ollovviiig'  persons  who  gave  up  pews  in  the  galleries: 
Bryant  Newconib;  Capt.  Benjamin  Page;  Alpheus  and  Lemuel  Spear, 
brothers,  one;  George  Spear;  Ebenezer  Bent;  Thomas  Adams; 
Solomon  and  Josiah  Nightingale,  one;  Ezra  Glover;  Daniel  Spear. 
The  first  four  pews  were  in  the  east  end  of  the  south  gallery 
and  were  occupied  by  the  owners.  The  others  were  on  the  back  of 
the  west  gallery,  most  of  the  owners  occupying   their   pews   below. 

The  following  vote  relates  to  the  pews  in  the  south  gallery,  only. 
"  M(Miday  October  0,  1828.  Voted  that  the  persons  owning  pews  in 
the  galknyof  the  old  meeting  house  may  hav(!  the  right  of  taking 
away  the  iron  railings  and  curtains  in  front  of  their  pews." 

At  the  same  meeting, — "  Voted  to  put  a  new  dial  and  glass  to  the 
clock  now  belonging  to  tlie  parish,  and  put  the  same  upon  the  new 
meeting  house." 

This  clock  is  the  one  now  on  the  west  or  singers'  gallery  of  the  new 
stone  temple.  It  was  a  gift — as  apjiears  by  the  following  vote  from 
the    town  records,   the  old  first  parish  then  comprising  the  town, — 


The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass.  13 

"  Sept  30,  1799, — Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  returned  to 
President  Adams  and  Mr.  Moses  Bhick  for  the  present  to  the  town  of 
a  ch)ck  in  the  meeting  house." 

We  come  now  to  the  destruction  of  the  old  church,  venerable,  in 
wanting  to  its  age  but  four  years  of  a  complete  century.  Owing 
to  the  increase  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  and  to  the  somewhat 
singular  non-increase  of  religious  societies,  the  edifice  was  found  far 
too  small  for  the  accommodation  of  all  who  wished  to  worship  in  it. 
A  new  and  larger  one  was  contemplated.  The  bequests  of  President 
^Adams,  sen.,  of  some  granite  quarries,  made  to  the  town  in  1822, 
with  the  request  that  from  them  a  temple  should  be  erected  by  the 
first  parish,  were  a  further  incitement  to  the  work;  and  on  the  6th  of 
Nov.,  1826,  the  report  of  a  committtie  appointed  on  the  11th  of  April 
previous,  recommending  the  erection  of  a  stone  church,  was  almost 
unanimously  accepted  by  the  parish.  The  cellar  was  commenced  on 
the  9th  of  April,  182T,  the  corner  stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  re- 
ligious ceremonies  on  the  11th  of  June  following,  and  the  church 
was  dedicated  on  Wednesday,  November  12,  1828.*  The  account  of 
the  exercises,  together  with  the  address  delivered  at  the  laying  of  the 
corner  stone  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney,  while  the  old  church 
•was  still  standing,  may  be  found  in  the  appendix  to  the  history 
of  Quincy.  The  new  edifice  was  located  on  the  north  west  of  the 
old,  and  immediately  contiguous.  The  portico  of  the  new  stone 
church,  if  shown  in  this  plate,  would  appear  directly  fronting  the 
observer,  on  the  left  of  the  old  tower.  So  close,  indeed,  were  the 
corners  of  the  two  buildings,  that  in  order  to  complete  the  right  end 
of  the  stone  portico,  it  was  necessary  to  remove  the  tower  of  the 
old  church.  On  the  28th  March,  1828,  the  tower  was  accordingly 
sold  at  public  auction.  It  was  bid  oif,  with  its  underpinning  and  the 
door  steps  belonging  with  it,  to  Mr.  John  Spear,  for  seventy  dollars. 
The  vane  and  ball  on  the  cupola  were  bid  off  separately  from  the 
tower,  to  Mr.  Henry  Wood,  for  three  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents, 
and  were  placed  on  his  barn  near  his  house  in  Quincy,  where  they  now 
remain.  On  the  eighth  of  April  following  the  bell  was  moved  from 
the  cupola  to  the  north-west  end  of  the  roof;  and  on  the  fourteenth, 
in  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  spectators,  the  cupola  was 
thrown  down  to  the  ground  with  a  loud  crash,  the  pillars  having 
been  sawn  ofi'.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  was  present,  and  recorded 
in  a  diary  at  the  time  the  incidents  as  here  related.  The  cupola 
was  found  to  be  much  decayed.  The  tower  was  wholly  removed  in  a 
few  days,  being  taken  down  in  pieces. 

Thus  the  old  edifice  stood  towerless  through  the  summer,  while  the 
new  temple  was  progressing  by  its  side.  On  the  3d  of  October,  as 
the  latter  drew  towards  its  completion,  the  bell  was  drawn  up  from 
its  summer  position  on  the  old  roof  to  the  cupola  of  the  new  church, 
without  at  all  coming  to  the  ground,  leaving  the  old  house  ready  to 
be  taken  down.     Here  the  society  gathered  for  the  last  time,  for  re- 

*  Beneath  this  granite  cliurch,  in  a  massive  toir.b,  repose  the  remains  of  Presi- 
dent Jo!in  Adams  and  wife,  and  President  .lohu  Quincy'  Adams  and  wife.  In  the 
interior  of  the  church  are  mm-al  monuments  with  appropriate  inscriptions, — copies  of 
which  may  be  found  in  tlie  Register,  vol.  ix.  j).  155. 


14  The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass. 

ligious  worsliip,  on  Sunday,  October  twelfth.  In  the  afternoon,  the 
pastor,  Rev.  Mr,  Whitney,  delivered  a  farewell  discourse,  appropriate 
to  the  occasion,  from  the  words  of  tlie  Prophet  Zechariah  I,  5. 
"Your  Fathers,  where  are  they?  and  the  Prophets,  do  they  live 
forever  ?"  The  following'  beautiful  hymn,  originally  written  for  a 
similar  occasion,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Flint,  of  Salem,  was  printed,  distributed 
in  the  pews,  and  sung  at  the  close  of  the  service  : — 

(1.) 
Here  to  the  High  and  Holy  One, 
Our  fathers  early  reared 
A  house  of  prayer,  a  lowly  one, 
Yet  long  to  them  endeared. 
l>y  hours  of  sweet  conimuuiun, 
Held  with  their  covenant  God, 
Ah  oft,  in  sacred  union, 
His  hallowed  courts  they  trod. 

(2.)  (3.) 

Gone  are  the  pious  multitudes  These  time-worn  walls,   the  resting  place, 

That  here  kept  holy  time,  So  oft,  from  earthly  cares, 

In  other  courts  assembled  now,  To  rigliteous  souls  now  perfected, 

For  worship  more  sublime.  We  leave  with  thanks  and  prayers ; 

Their  children  we  ar^  waiting  With  thanks  for  every  blessing 

In  meekness,  Lord,  thy  call ;  Vouchsafed  through  all  the  past, 

Thy  love  still  celebrating,  With  prayers,  thy  throne  addressing, 

Our  hope,  our  trust,  our  all.  For  guidance  to  the  last. 

(4.) 
Though  from  this  house,  so  long  beloved, 
We  part  with  sadness  now  ; 
Yet  here,  we  trust,  with  gladness,  soon 
In  fairer  courts  to  bow ; 
So  when  our  souls,  forsaking 
These  bodies  fallen,  and  pale, 
In   brighter  forms  awaking, 
With  joy  the  change  shall  hail. 

It  was  not  without  emotions  of  regret  that  for  the  last  time 
the  congregation  "  trod  those  hallowed  courts"  where,  through 
childhood  or  manhood  and  age,  they  had  gone  to  praise  and  pray. 
The  associations  of  earlier  times  gathered  in  that  hour  and 
place;  and  many  like  "the  priests,  levites  and  chief  of  the  fathers 
who  were  ancient  men,"  of  whom  the  prophet  tells  us,  "  remembering 
the  former  days,  wept"  that  no  more  liiey  should  go  up  to  "  the  for- 
mer house  of  the  Lord." 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  the  old  church  was  sold  at  public 
auction  by  Deacon  Daniel  Spear  ;  the  tower,  as  we  have  seen,  having 
been  disposed  of  befon^.  Its  parts  were  separately  sold  and  in  the 
following  order:  The  pulpit  window,  broad  and  handsome,  with  a 
semi-circular  top,  alone,  had  inside  blinds,  and  tiiese  were  first  sold 
to  Isaac  Dodge  for  $3.00.  The  stove,  standing  on  the  north-west 
side,  opposite  tlie  tower  door,  was  sold,  with  its  appurtenances,  to 
David  Kiddle,  Esq.,  for  $42.50.  Tlio  pulpit  and  pews  below  were 
also  sold  to  him  for  $53.00.  Tlie  residue  of  tlie  building  was  sold  to 
Ebenezer  Adams,  for  $202.  Stone  underpinning  and  steps  were  sold 
to  Cotton  Pratt  for  $b2.50.    Total  $383.00.    Net  proceeds  of  the  old 


The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass.  15 

church,  including  the  former  sale  of  tower,  $456.25.  In  the  course 
of  ten  days  it  was  wholly  taken  down  and  the  spot  graded,  there 
having  been  no  cellar  beneath  the  building  ;  and  on  the  12th  of 
November  following,  as  we  have  seen,  the  present  stone  church, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  thirty-five  thousand  dollars,  from  granite  quar- 
ries bequeathed  for  the  purpose,  by  President  John  Adams,  was 
dedicated.  The  society  worshipped  in  the  Town  Hall  on  three 
Sabbaths  previous  to  the  dedication,  religious  services  being  sus- 
pended on  the  first  Sabbath  after  the  destruction  of  the  old  church 
edifice. 

The  materials  of  the  old  edifice  were,  in  the  following  spring,  con- 
verted into  four  dwelling  houses  still  standing  on  a  street  then  first 
opened  for  the  purpose,  now  called  Cottage  Avenue,  running  from 
Webb's  bridge  on  Hancock  street,  to  Sea  street.  The  houses  were 
erected  by  Mr.  Adams,  who,  as  has  been  seen,  purchased  the  building 
and  who,  with  Samuel  Capen  of  Braintree,  owned  the  land  and  opened 
the  street.  This  land  belonged,  originally,  to  Rev.  Mr.  Tompson,  first 
minister  of  the  church,  and  was  long  known  as  "  the  Tompson  lot." 
Near  its  northern  boundary  was  the  residence  of  Rev.  Mr.  Flint,  the 
associate  of  Mr.  Tompson,  who  owned  the  estate  of  Jedadiah  Adams, 
then  including  the  estate  of  the  late  minister,  Rev.  P.  Whitney. 

We  append  a  complete  list  of  the  ministers  who  have  been  settled 
over  this  ancient  religious  society.  The  principal  portion  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Hancock's  ministry,  the  ministries  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Briant  and 
Wibird,  and  most  of  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney,  were  in  the 
church  here  commemorated.  The  latter  portion  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney's 
ministry,  the  ministries  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Lunt  and  Wells  were  in  the 
present  stone  church. 

I.  Rev  William  Tompson,  born  in  Lancashire,  England.  1598  ; 
educated  at  Oxford.  The  exact  year  of  his  arrival  here  is  uncertain. 
Eminent  for  zeal  and  eloquence  as  a  preacher  in  England.  Or- 
dained here,  November  19,  1639,  (the  church  having  been  gathered 
Sept.  11,  1639),  and  died  December  10,  1666,  in  the  69th  year  of  his 
age.  He  ceased  from  his  public  labors  as  a  preacher  in  1659,  by 
reason  of  ill-health. 

II.  Rev.  Henry  Flynt  (associate),  teacher,  came  to  this  country  in 
1635,  probably  from  Matlock,  Derbyshire,  England  ;  ordained  here, 
March  H,  1639-40,  and  died  April  27,  1668,  aged  61. 

III.  Rev.  Moses  Fiske,  son  of  Rev.  John  Fiske,  of  Wenham,  Mass., 
graduate  H.  U.,  1662  ;  ordained  Sept.  11,  1672,  and  died  August  10, 
1708,  in  the  66th  year  of  his  age. 

IV.  Rev.  Joseph  Marsh,  H.  U.  1705,  son  of  Daniel  Marsh,  of  Had- 
ley  ;  admitted  to  Cambridge  church,  November  28,  1703,  as  "Joseph 
Marsh,  student,"  was  ordained  May  18, 1709,  and  died  March  8, 1725-6, 
in  41st  year  of  his  age. 

V.  Rev.  John  Hancock,  H.  U.,  1719,  son  of  Rev.  John  Hancock,  of 
Lexington,  H.  U.  1689,  was  ordained,  Nov.  2,  1726,  and  died.  May  7, 
1744,  in  42d  year  of  his  age.  His  discourses  in  1739,  on  the  completion 
of  the  first  century  of  the  church,  were  published.  He  dedicated,  as 
we  have  seen,  the  edifice  here  represented  ;  he  died  May  7,  1744,  in 
the  42d  year  of  his  age.  John  Hancock,  the  patriot.  President 
of  the  Continental  Congress,  was  his  son  and  second  child, 


]6  The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass. 

VI.  Rev.' Lemuel  Biiant,  H.  U.,  1139,  son  of  Thomas  Briant,  of 
Scituate,  Mass,  was  ordained  December  4,  1145:  dismissed  at  his  re- 
quest on  account  of  ill  health,  October  22,  1753,  and  died  at  Hingliam, 
October  1,  1754,  aged  32  years,  and  was  interred  at  Scituate. 

VII.  Rev.  Anthony  Wibird,  H.  U.,  1747,  born  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H., 
was  ordained  February  5,  1755,  and  died  unmarried,  Wednesday, 
June  4,  1800,  aged  72,  and  was  interred  on  7th.  For  a  few  of  the 
latter  years  of  his  ministry  he  was  unable,  from  bodily  infirmities,  to 
attend  upon  the  duties  of  his  office. 

VIII.  Kev.  Peter  Whitney,  H.  U.,  1791,  born  atNorthboro,  January 
19,  1770,  son  of  Rev.  Peter  Whitney  of  Northboro,  of  H.  U.,  1762, 
and  grandson  of  Rev.  Aaron  Whitney,  of  Peterham,  of  H.  U.,  1737, 
ordafned  February  5,  1800,  and  died  suddenly,  as  his  father  died, 
March  3,  1843,  in  74th  year  of  his  age  and  44tli  of  his  ministry. 

IX.  Rev.  William  Parsons  Lunt,  D.  D.,  H.  U.,  1823,  was  born  in  New- 
buryport,  vVpril  21,  1805;  son  of  Henry  Lunt;  ordained  over  the  2d  con- 
gregational (Unitarian)  church.  New  York  city,  June  19,  1828;  left, 
November,  1833;  installed  associate  pastor  with  Rev.  Mr.  Whitney, 
June  3,  1835.  Surviving  his  aged  colleague  fourteen  years  he  died 
at  Ezio'n-Geber,  on  a  fond  tour  to  Jerusalem,  March  21,  1857,  in  the 
52nd  year  of  his  age  and  22nd  of  his  ministry  at  Quincy.  His  dis- 
courses in  1839,  on  the  completion  of  the  2d  century  of  the  church, 
were  published  with  valuable  historical  notes. 

X.  Rev.  John  Doane  Wells,  H.  U.,  1854,  son  of  Rev.  George  Wads- 
worth  Wells,  H.  U.,  1823,  was  born  at  Kennebunk,  Me.,  and  was  or- 
dained at  Quincy,  December  27,  I860.— Present  pastor. 

The  remains  of  all  the  deceased  ministers,  except  Messrs.  Briant 
and  Lunt,  repose  in  the  ancient  burial-ground,  opposite  the  first 
church.  See  vol.  ix,  p.  151  of  this  Register.  Two  beautiful  mural 
monuments  in  marble  have  been  erected  in  this  church,  commemora- 
tive of  the  eighth  and  ninth  ministers,  Rev.  Messrs.  Whitney  and 
Lunt,  by  their  parishoners.  They  are  placed  opposite  similar  monu- 
ments commemorative  of  the  two  Presidents,  alluded  to  in  the  article 
here  presented,  and  bear  appropriate  inscriptions  both  from  the  pen 
of  Rev.  Nathaniel  L.  Frothingham,  D.  D.,  of  First  Church,  Boston. 

We  have  spoken  minutely  of  this  ancient  edifice,  remembering 
that  facts  and  events  which,  because  connected  with  our  own  time, 
we  perhaps  little  regard,  soon  pass  into  history,  and  their  record 
posterity  thanks  us  for  and  prizes.  We  love  to  look  on  this  old 
plate.  It  calls  back  memories  and  associations  dear  and  hallowed. 
It  toils  of  the  wise  and  good  who  so  long  united  in  the  services  of 
the  church;  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Nation,  who,  from  the  strife  and 
turmoil  of 'political  life,  and  from  the  council  chambers  of  state, 
came  on  the  peaceful  sabbath,  to  sit  beneath  its  Sanctuary,  and  at 
its  Communion  Table  to  commemorate  the  Saviour,  and  at  its  Altar 
to  pray,  where  in  infancy  they  had  been  baptized.  It  speaks  of  a 
great  companv  of  the  meek  and  pious;  of  beautiful  children;  of 
young  men  and  maidens;  of  fathers  and  mothers,  who  with  the 
early°  spring  and  the  falling  leaves  of  successive  years,  went  out 
from  its  wt)rship  to  lie  down  in  the  silent  grave.  It  tells  of  many 
words  of   counsel,  warning   and   reproof;  of  consolation,  strength 


The  Old  Church,  Quincy,  Mass.  17 

and  hope,  uttered  sabbath  after  sabbath  within  its  walls  from  re- 
vered lips  long  stilled.  Its  solemn  voice,  like  the  well-remembered 
echo  of  its  uncarpeted  aigles,  yet  speaks  impressively  of  the  change 
of  all  things  earthly,  and  pleads  with  us  for  faithfulness  to  the  Pre- 
sent from  the  hallowed  Past. 


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